U.S. patent number 10,053,923 [Application Number 15/142,027] was granted by the patent office on 2018-08-21 for enhanced union connection.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FORUM US, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is FORUM US, INC.. Invention is credited to Mark C. Dille, Wesley D. Freed, Andrew J. Johnson.
United States Patent |
10,053,923 |
Johnson , et al. |
August 21, 2018 |
Enhanced union connection
Abstract
An enhanced union connection for connecting tubular members
together. The enhanced union connection may include a male end
member, a female end member, a wing nut, and nut retaining
segments. The union connection is configured to quickly and easily
connect and disconnect tubular members together, while providing
and maintaining a robust connection and seal (e.g. up to 15,000 psi
or more) between the tubular members when connected together.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Andrew J. (Corpus
Christi, TX), Dille; Mark C. (Houston, TX), Freed; Wesley
D. (Aledo, TX) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORUM US, INC. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FORUM US, INC. (Houston,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
57708879 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/142,027 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170314336 A1 |
Nov 2, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
19/0218 (20130101); F16L 19/063 (20130101); E21B
17/042 (20130101); F16L 19/0231 (20130101); F16L
19/0206 (20130101); F16L 19/05 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
19/02 (20060101); F16L 19/06 (20060101); E21B
17/042 (20060101); F16L 19/05 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;285/388,354,387 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report dated Mar. 14, 2017 corresponding to
International Application No. PCT/US2016/067485. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Bochna; David
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patterson + Sheridan, L.L.P.
Claims
We claim:
1. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member;
at least two nut retaining segments coupled together and at least
partially disposed in the groove of the male end member, wherein
the groove of the male end member includes a tapered surface that
contacts a first tapered surface of the nut retaining segments, and
wherein the groove of the male end member further includes a curved
surface having a variable radius along a length of the curved
surface; a female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; and a wing nut having a
groove and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing
nut, wherein the groove of the wing nut includes a tapered surface
that contacts a second tapered surface of the nut retaining
segments, and wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into
engagement with the threads of the female end member.
2. The connection of claim 1, wherein the variable radius increases
along the length of the curved surface.
3. The connection of claim 1, wherein the groove of the wing nut
further includes a curved surface having a variable radius along a
length of the curved surface.
4. The connection of claim 3, wherein the variable radius of the
groove of the wing nut increases and decreases along the length of
the curved surface.
5. The connection of claim 1, wherein the threads of the wing nut
form a spiral line of point contact with the threads of the female
end member.
6. The connection of claim 1, wherein the threads of the wing nut
and the threads of the female end member form a self-locking
threaded connection when made up together.
7. The connection of claim 1, wherein the threads of the wing nut
have single point contact with the threads of the female end
member.
8. The connection of claim 1, wherein the male end member includes
a flanged end and a recessed area adjacent to the flanged end.
9. The connection of claim 1, wherein the nut retaining segments
are coupled together by a retaining ring.
10. The connection of claim 1, wherein the nut retaining segments
are entirely disposed within the wing nut.
11. The connection of claim 1, wherein the tapered surface of the
groove of the male end member and the first tapered surface of the
nut retaining segments are configured to center the male end member
relative to the female end member.
12. The connection of claim 1, wherein the tapered surface of the
groove of the wing nut and the second tapered surface of the nut
retaining segments are configured to center the male end member
relative to the female end member.
13. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member;
at least two nut retaining segments coupled together and at least
partially disposed in the groove of the male end member, wherein
the groove of the male end member includes a tapered surface that
contacts a first tapered surface of the nut retaining segments; a
female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; and a wing nut having a
groove and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing
nut, wherein the groove of the wing nut includes a tapered surface
that contacts a second tapered surface of the nut retaining
segments, wherein the groove of the wing nut further includes a
curved surface having a variable radius along a length of the
curved surface, and wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into
engagement with the threads of the female end member.
14. The connection of claim 13, wherein the variable radius
increases and decreases along the length of the curved surface.
15. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member;
at least two nut retaining segments coupled together and at least
partially disposed in the groove of the male end member, wherein
the groove of the male end member includes a tapered surface that
contacts a first tapered surface of the nut retaining segments; a
female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; and a wing nut having a
groove and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing
nut, wherein the groove of the wing nut includes a tapered surface
that contacts a second tapered surface of the nut retaining
segments, wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into
engagement with the threads of the female end member, and wherein
the threads of the wing nut have single point contact with the
threads of the female end member.
16. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member,
wherein at least a portion of the groove has a curved surface with
a variable radius along at least a portion of a length of the
curved surface; a female end member having threads formed about an
outer circumference of the female end member; a wing nut having a
groove and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing
nut, wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into engagement
with the threads of the female end member; and at least two nut
retaining segments coupled together and at least partially in
contact with the groove of the male end member and the groove of
the wing nut to couple the male end member to the female end member
via the wing nut.
17. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member;
a female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; a wing nut having a groove
and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing nut,
wherein at least a portion of the groove of the wing nut has a
curved surface with a variable radius along at least a portion of a
length of the curved surface, and wherein the threads of the wing
nut thread into engagement with the threads of the female end
member; and at least two nut retaining segments coupled together
and at least partially in contact with the groove of the male end
member and the groove of the wing nut to couple the male end member
to the female end member via the wing nut.
18. A union connection, comprising: a male end member having a
groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end member;
a female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; a wing nut having a groove
and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing nut,
wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into engagement with the
threads of the female end member and have single point contact with
the threads of the female end member; and at least two nut
retaining segments coupled together and at least partially in
contact with the groove of the male end member and the groove of
the wing nut to couple the male end member to the female end member
via the wing nut.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field
The present disclosure relates to an enhanced union connection for
connecting tubular members together.
Description of the Related Art
Oilfield operations, such as hydraulic fracturing, require flowline
equipment that can handle a large volume of high pressure fluids
that are pumped into a well. The flowline equipment may include
numerous lengths, sizes, and shapes of tubular members (such as
pipes) and other components that have to be connected together by a
connection. The number of connections, the robustness of the
connections, and the difficulty of making up and breaking out the
connections all contribute to time, cost, and risk of injury to
workers of the oilfield operation.
Union connections have been designed to connect and seal the ends
of two tubular members together. However, when high pressure fluids
are pumped through the tubular members, union connections, and/or
other components connected to the tubular members, the flowline
equipment begins to expand, vibrate, and/or bind, which causes the
union connections to loosen and fail. Therefore, some union
connections are bulky and heavy to provide a more robust seal, but
which require more time to make up and break out the connection.
Other union connections require special tools to make up and break
out the connection, which increases cost.
Therefore, there is a need for new and improved enhanced union
connections.
SUMMARY
Embodiments of the disclosure include an enhanced union connection
for connecting tubular members together.
In one embodiment, a union connection comprises a male end member
having a groove formed about an outer circumference of the male end
member; at least two nut retaining segments coupled together and at
least partially disposed in the groove of the male end member,
wherein the groove of the male end member includes a tapered
surface that contacts a first tapered surface of the nut retaining
segments; a female end member having threads formed about an outer
circumference of the female end member; and a wing nut having a
groove and threads formed about an inner circumference of the wing
nut, wherein the groove of the wing nut includes a tapered surface
that contacts a second tapered surface of the nut retaining
segments, and wherein the threads of the wing nut thread into
engagement with the threads of the female end member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the
present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular
description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had
by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the
appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended
drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and
are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the
disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a union connection,
according to one embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged portion of the sectional view of
FIG. 1 showing a threaded engagement of the union connection.
For clarity, identical reference numerals have been used, where
applicable, to designate identical elements that are common between
figures. Additionally, elements of one embodiment may be
advantageously adapted for utilization in other embodiments
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a union connection 100
according to one embodiment. The union connection 100 is configured
to quickly and easily connect and disconnect tubular members (such
as pipes and other flowline equipment) together. The union
connection 100 is also configured to provide and maintain a robust
connection and seal (for up to 15,000 psi or more) between the
tubular members when connected together.
The union connection 100 includes a male end member 10, a female
end member 20, a wing nut 30, and at least two nut retaining
segments 40. The male end member 10 may be a tubular member having
a flanged end 15 that can be connected to another tubular member,
such as a pipe in a flowline of an oilfield operation. The female
end member 20 may be a tubular member having an end 25 that can be
connected to another tubular member, such as a pipe in a flowline
of an oilfield operation.
The wing nut 30 may be positioned over the male end member 10 (or
alternatively, the male end member 10 may be inserted into the wing
nut 30) prior to connecting to the female end member 20. The male
end member 10 may include an undercut or recessed area 11 adjacent
to the flanged end 15 to allow the wing nut 30 to move up or down
to provide clearance when installing the nut retaining segments 40.
The male end member 10 may also include a groove 12 formed about
the outer circumference of the male end member 10 within which the
nut retaining segments 40 is at least partially disposed as further
described below.
The groove 12 of the male end member 10 includes a tapered surface
34 that contacts a corresponding first tapered surface 44 of the
nut retaining segments 40 to couple the male end member 10 to the
female end member 20. The tapered surfaces 34, 44 may form about a
30 degree angle relative to the vertical axis. The tapered surfaces
34, 44 may also be configured to reduce stress and help self center
the male end member 10 relative to the female end member 20 such
that the bore of the male end member 10 is co-linear with the bore
of the female end member 20.
The groove 12 of the male end member 10 may also include a curved
surface 35 adjacent to the tapered surface 34. The curved surface
35 may have a variable blended radius along the length of the
curved surface 35 to help disperse stresses in this area. The
radius of the curved surface 35 decreases along the length of the
curved surface 35 when viewed from the left side to the right side
in FIG. 1. Alternatively stated, the radius of the curved surface
35 increases along the length of the curved surface 35 when viewed
from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1.
The nut retaining segments 40 may be positioned around the outer
circumference of the male end member 10 and at least partially
disposed in the groove 12 such that the tapered surfaces 34, 44 are
in contact with each other. The nut retaining segments 40 are
secured together about the male end member 10 with a retaining ring
45. The nut retaining segments 40 may comprise two, three, four or
more pieces (e.g. halves or semi-circular portions) that are
coupled together about the male end member by the retaining ring
45.
After the nut retaining segments 40 are coupled to the male end
member 10, the wing nut 30 may be moved over the nut retaining
segments 40 and rotated into engagement with the female end member
20. The nut retaining segments 40 may be disposed entirely within
the wing nut 30 and configured to retain the wing nut 30 onto the
male end member 10 as the wing nut 30 is threaded onto the female
end member 20. In particular, the wing nut 30 may include threads
31 formed about the inner circumference of the wing nut 30 that
couple to threads 21 formed about the outer circumference of the
female end member 20. The threads 21, 31 make up a threaded
connection 50 between the wing nut 30 and the female end member
20.
FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the threaded
connection 50. The threaded connection 50 may be a Spiralock.RTM.
threaded connection that forms a continuous spiral line of point
contact along the length of the threads 21, 31, which evenly
distributes the load along the threaded connection 50 and is
self-locking. Each thread 31 of the wing nut 30 may contact a
corresponding thread 21 of the female end member 20 at a single
point that creates radially loading (and hoop stress) on the
threaded connection 50 to help self center the wing nut 30 relative
to the female end member 20 so that they are co-linear, and/or to
help self center the female end member 20 relative to the male end
member 10 so that they are co-linear. The point contact between the
threads 21, 31 also prevents loosening and/or rotation of the
threaded connection 50 due to vibration. The threads 21 of the
female end member 20 may have a maximized root radius 22 (as shown
in FIG. 2) and an increased area thickness 24 to help reduce
stresses in the threaded connection 50.
Referring back to FIG. 1, as the wing nut 30 is threaded onto the
female end member 40, the wing nut 30 also engages the nut
retaining segments 40. As the threaded connection 50 is tightened
together, the wing nut 30 couples the nut retaining segments 40
with both the wing nut 30 and the male end member 10. The contact
area between the wing nut 30 and the nut retaining segments 40 (at
tapered surfaces 33, 43), as well as the contact area between the
nut retaining segments 40 and the male end member 10 (at tapered
surfaces 34, 44), is maximized to prevent the nut retaining
segments 40 from shearing out under load.
The wing nut 30 includes a groove 36 formed about the inner
circumference of the wing nut 30 that is positioned around the nut
retaining segments 40 when the union connection 100 is made up. The
groove 36 of the wing nut 30 includes a tapered surface 33 that
contacts a corresponding second tapered surface 43 of the nut
retaining segments 40 to couple the male end member 10 to the
female end member 20. The tapered surfaces 33, 43 may form about a
30 degree angle relative to the vertical axis. The tapered surfaces
33, 43 may also be configured to reduce stress and help self center
the male end member 10 relative to the female end member 20 such
that the bore of the male end member 10 is co-linear with the bore
of the female end member 20.
The groove 36 of the wing nut 30 may also include a curved surface
32 adjacent to the tapered surface 33. The curved surface 32 may
have a variable blended radius along the length of the curved
surface 32 to help disperse stresses in this area. The radius of
the curved surface 32 increases and then decreases along the length
of the curved surface 32 when viewed from the left side to the
right side (or when viewed from the right side to the left side) in
FIG. 1. Alternatively stated, the radius of the curved surface 35
at the center of the curved surface 35 is greater than the radius
of the ends of the curved surface 35.
Before or as the wing nut 30 is threaded onto the female end member
20, the end of the male end member 10 can be brought into contact
with the female end member 20. In particular, the end of the male
end member 10 opposite the flanged end 15 includes a tapered
surface 13 that contacts a corresponding tapered surface 23 of the
female end member 20. The tapered surfaces 13, 23 may form a
(metal-to-metal) seal when the threaded connection 50 is tightened
and the union connection 100 is made up to couple the male end
member 10 to the female end member 20. A resilient seal ring 60 may
also be positioned between the ends of the male end member 10 and
the female end member 20 adjacent to the tapered surfaces 13, 23 to
form a seal.
In one embodiment, the union connection 100 may include only the
male end member 10, the wing nut 30, and the nut retaining segments
40, which all can be retrofit onto existing threaded female ends of
existing tubulars, pipes, and other flowline equipment to form the
union connection 100.
One advantage of the embodiments of the union connection 100
described is that the components of the union connection 100 self
center and become co-linear as the connection is made up. Another
advantage of the embodiments of the union connection 100 described
above include a Spiralock.RTM. threaded connection that is
self-locking, evenly loads the threads, and provides anti-vibration
and anti-rotation protection. Another advantage of the embodiments
of the union connection 100 described above include a thicker
thread area and maximum thread root radius to reduce stresses on
the threads. Another advantage of the embodiments of the union
connection 100 is the ability to retrofit to existing threaded
female ends of existing tubulars, pipes, and other flowline
equipment.
It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the
preceding embodiments are exemplary and not limiting. It is
intended that all permutations, enhancements, equivalents, and
improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art
upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are
included within the true spirit and scope of the present
disclosure. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims include all such modifications, permutations, and
equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of these
teachings.
* * * * *